Moccasin.



G. H. BASS.

MOGGASIN. APPLICATION FILED APR. 19, 1910.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

G. BASS.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[NV/5N7 *4? Alma/41d 7*: I y v A GEORGE E. BASS, 0F WILTON, MAINE.

MOGCASIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

Applicationfiled April 19, 1910. Serial No. 556,427.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. BAss, a

citizen of the United States, residing at or slippers known as moccasins, the'sole and upper of which are in one piece. As commonly made, a moccasm 1s a limp, loosefitting shoe, and lacks shapeliness especially I at the'shank or the arch of the foot where the upper tends to bulge out or run over at the sides.

The object of my invention is to obviate this defect, and improve the construction of moccasins with a view toobtaining a'better fit and appearance, and a more practicable lasting and comfortable wearing shoe.

The inventionwill be described with reference to the "accompanying drawings and be pointed out more particularly in the claim appended to this specification.

In said drawings, Figure l is a-perspective view of a moccasin embodying my invention, the near side being broken away to reveal the interior. Fig. '2 is a plan view a of the blank from which the sole and upper are made. Fig. 3 is a back view of the heel. Fig. 4 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, showing amodification. 'Fig. 5 isa plan view of the blank for the sole and upper of the moccasin shown in Fig. 4.

To facilitate the description, arts of the moccasin may be designated as ollows: 1 is the sole portion; 2 is thetop portion formed to provide the tongue 3; l is the ball-and-toe portion of the upper, which is sewn to the,

top. portion 2 with an outstanding seam 5 and 6 is the back portion of the vamp or upper including the heel or counter portion 7 and also including the lacing flaps 8. The sole portion 1 of the moccasin is extended to form the upper including the ball-and-toe portion 1 thereof and which is sewn to the top portion 2 as in the usual construction.

9 is'the shank or that portion of the shoe at the arch of the foot.

Referring to Figs. land 2, thepiece for the sole and upper ismade from two blanks a and b, symmetrical with respect to one another and having the proper marginal contour for the upper, including the ball-andtoe portion 4 and the rear portion 6 with its lacing flaps as shown. The inner edges of then lasted, and the top the blanks are sewn together, making a longitudinal seam 10 along the middle of the sole.

In Fig. 2, d indicates the point on the sole where it turns up at the toe; e is a point just back of the ball of the foot and f is a point under the ball of the heel. The inner edges of the blanks diverge from d to c. From (Z to e the edges are straight or parallel, but from c to f they are cut away on a concave, as. indicated at g, which of course leaves a space between them when the blanks are adjoined. Hence when the edges from d to f are stitched together with a straight seam the effect is to contract and artially gather the shank portions 'h of the lanks. The back portions of the blanks are cut away as indicated atz' and are slit at j, to allow the leather to spread so as to adjust itself to the round part of the heel,

leaving an opening which is covered by the sole on the outside and may be covered by a piece of sole leather 'over the heel seat on the inside. The advantage of making the moccasin this way is that it will fit the last in the shank so that it will be much more comfortable and shapely, and it also gives I an opportunity to put in a stiffener or counter 12 of sole leather at the heel, and to make the heel seam 13 as in an ordinary shoe. Making the sole and upper from the two blanks is also conducive to economy of material, since it enables the manufacturer to utilize smaller pieces of leather.

In making the moccasin, the blanks a and b are first stitched together with a machine, making a straight seam from d to f. The edges may also be stitched togetherfrom d to 0, but are preferably stitched to a toe piece 14. The counter or heel stiffener 12 is then put in and a bottom sole or outsole 15 of ordinary sole. leather is fastened on, before the moccasin goes to the last. It is piece 2 is afterward sewn in by hand in t e ordinary moccasin fashion. The product is a real moccasin with the addition of sole and counter, and has the advantage of giving a much better fit.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the sole and upper of the moccasin-therein represented are made from a single blank k, which corresponds to thetwo blanks a and b of Fig. 2 if sewn together from d to 6 but without the gap from c 0 to d. This single blank k has a portion removed or cut away along its luu longitudinal middle from 6 to f leaving the concave edges 9 g in the same manner and for the like purpose as in Fig. 2. The rear portion is cut away at i and slitted at 7' as in the previous construction. Otherwise the construction of the moccasin is the same, omitting the toe piece 14; of Fig. 1.

In the following claim, the term upper is intended to designate the vamp or upper including the rear portion 6 and ball-andtoe portion 4, but not including the top portion 2. The expression blank for the sole and upper is intended to include the blanks shown in Fig. 2 or the single blank shown in Fig. 5.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A moccasin consisting of the top portion 2 and blank for the sole and upper, the balland-toe portion of which is sewn to the said 20 away portion z and slit j, together with the heel stifiener or counter 12 and under sole 15, the back ends of the blank being stitched alongthe heel seam 13 substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix mysignature, 30

in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE H. BASS.

Witnesses:

H. W. SEWALL, C. A. CoMINs. 

